InTASC standard #3 is Learning Environments. I believe an interactive and supportive classroom design is an important tool used to enhance lessons and encourage social interaction. When at school, your child is not only learning independently, but also learning social etiquette for everyday use. My lessons fluctuate between independent, small-group, and large-group. These elements ultimately assist a strong lesson, appealing to a variety of learning styles. The activity we are completing in the example below provides opportunity for students to practice all three study structures.
Working independently promotes critical thinking, organization, and confidence in academic performance. It also allows the teacher to address each student personally, allowing him/her to provide direct and focused instruction. In the beginning of this activity, students worked independently reading and translating a speech from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and Romeo and Juliet.
Once the passages were transcribed, the students worked in pairs comparing each monologues and deciphering their meanings. Working in small groups is a great way for students to brainstorm ideas and create theories. Small group work also provides an opportunity to practice social skills, as they are working as a team towards the same goal.
Finally, to conclude the lesson, the students shared their findings as a class, comparing their answers and discussing the differences. Working in a large group environment lets the students analyze their findings and encourages both critical and creative thinking. Large group work can also result in an increase in confidence, resulting in more prominent class participation.
